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Putin to meet leaders of Duma factions to discuss work of government

During the meeting with Vladimir Putin the leaders of the Duma factions will also discuss preparations for the regional elections of all levels due on September 8

MOSCOW, May 14 (Itar-Tass) - On May 15 President Putin is to meet leaders of the four Duma factions - the United Russia, KPRF, the Just Russia and LDPR, the Kremlin press service said on Tuesday,

On the agenda are current issues of the Duma law making activities, including a bill on the election of Duma deputies. During the meeting with Vladimir Putin the leaders of the Duma factions will also discuss preparations for the regional elections of all levels due on September 8.

Nevertheless, the leaders of the Duma factions would like to discuss the work of the government as one of priority problems. “I believe that we will discuss the fulfillment of the May presidential decrees and a new bill on the elections of the deputies to the State Duma at the coming meeting,” leader of the United Russia faction of the State Duma and Vice-Speaker of the Lower House of parliament Vladimir Vasilyev told reporters on Tuesday.

He noted that “the increased number of the parties, the transfer to the mixed election system, an easier signup campaign, a lower election hurdle which is five percent down now, were the important initiatives of the president to ensure a stronger influence of the society on political processes.” The United Russia “supports the position of the president, which offers equal opportunities to all participants in the election.” Meanwhile, “colleagues from other factions call for additional requirements to the registration of candidates nominated by the non-parliamentary political parties,” Vasilyev said.

The United Russia intends taking more steps in the struggle against corruption. “Thanks to the active position assumed by the president and support of all the parties an unprecedented legal basis for the struggle against corruption has been created in Russia for the first time. “We hope that the discussion of these issues with our colleagues in the presence of the president will be productive,” Vasilyev said.

The LDPR party headed by Vladimir Zhirinovsky intends to raise the question as to whether Education Minister Dmitry Livanov could remain in his post. Another item on the agenda of the meeting should be a new procedure of the election of the deputies in the State Duma. A new bill on the election of the deputies, that had already passed the first reading at the State Duma, arose many questions, “not all the State Duma factions have accepted it," Vice-Speaker of the Lower House from LDPR ,Igor Lebedev, said. “As for Litvinov’s dismissal, three out of four Duma factions had put forward this initiative, and the situation needs settlement,” Igor Lebedev said.

The Communists are also ready to raise the question of Livanov’s dismissal, First Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Russia and First Vice-Speaker in the State Duma Ivan Melnikov confirmed. As to what we have found particularly striking, it was an annual account of the government to the State Duma. In particular, the Communists would like to raise such problems as production decline, adequate staffing of high-tech enterprises, the situation in the agrarian sector, particularly in terms of Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization, the situation in the forestry industry and a few more issues.

Leader of the A Just Russia faction Sergei Mironov said representatives of his faction will come out with two initiatives: a 13th pension for people over 70 years old and the exemption of land owners, who own fewer than eight hundred square meters of land, of land tax.